Be a Model Office-Mate

Posted on August 15, 2008 at 10:58 am by Alan

If you have a serviced office and are sharing space with other companies and businesses there will be time when you find the close proximity of others difficult to cope with.  Having others in the office can be positive or on occasions totally unbearable.

On the positive side having other businesses can give you opportunities to network and to bounce ideas off.  It can be good on some days if you have someone you can discuss a work problem with.  Perhaps the other company has come up against the same issue and can offer sound advice.  Having others close by can stimulate and motivate you.  However if you’re working on something that requires peace and quiet you may find others a distraction and downright irritation.

If possible have some form of partition to clearly define your work space.  If this isn’t possible ensure desks are spaced apart so that you’re not cramped up against one another.  Speak to your business centre manager about moving office equipment to a place where it won’t disturb you when it’s being used. 

Avoid clashes over music by using headphones.  Not everyone will appreciate your style in music and some people may not appreciate any music at all while they are working.  Stagger lunch times too so that there are some time sin the day when the office is quieter so you can get on with work that requires a huge amount of concentration.

Keep your workspace tidy and uncluttered and don’t take personal calls in the office.  By taking others into consideration you can avoid the downsides and capitalize upon the positives of working within a ready-made business network.

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